BIOL 420N Data Visualization

February, 2023

What is Data Visualization?

Data visualization turns data into visual information. We could turn data into auditory or tactile information as well.

Data visualization turns data into visual information. We could turn data into auditory or tactile information as well.

This involves abstraction, as shapes, colours etc are used to represent the data.

Data visualization turns data into visual information. We could turn data into auditory or tactile information as well.

This involves abstraction as shapes, colours etc are used to represent the data.

Visual and data literacies are needed to interpret both the data and the abstraction.

Why Do We Visualize Data?

Data visualization is the graphical display of abstract information for two purposes: sense-making (also called data analysis) and communication.

Stephen Few. Data Visualization for Human Perception.

What Makes an Effective Visualization?

The key to the success of any visual, beautiful or not, is providing access to information so that the user may gain knowledge. A visual that does not achieve this goal has failed.

Noah Iliinsky (2010). On Beauty. In Beautiful visualization: looking at data through the eyes of experts.

A beautiful visualization has a clear goal, a message, or a particular perspective on the information that it is designed to convey. Access to this information should be as straightforward as possible, without sacrificing any necessary, relevant complexity.

Noah Iliinsky (2010). On Beauty. In Beautiful visualization: looking at data through the eyes of experts.

Attributes & Perception

Even though an object as a whole might take some conscious effort to identify, the basic visual attributes that combine to make up that object are perceived without any conscious effort.

Stephen Few (2004). Tapping the Power of Visual Perception.

Form

Colour

Position

Form

Colour

Position

Preattentive Attributes

135 202 210 210 215 217 230 230 233 237 246 250 250 250 255 259 260 260 265 268 270 276 280 280 280 281 286 290 291 300 300 300 301 306 310 310 314 315 320 325 327 329 330 332 336 338 340 350 350 350 350 352 360 360 360 360 375 377 380 380 383 390 390 392 407 410 411 420 420 424 425 430 431 435 444 445 450 460 460 465 470 490 500 500 505 524 525 525 529 538 540 545 560 570 600 600 600 605 610 618 620 625 630 652 671 680 696 710 720 720 730 735 735 760 780 800 840 850 870 890 900 900 906 981 1000 1038 1054 1100 1171 1205 1243 1270 1306 1450 1459 1770 1885 2315 2348 2533 3710

135 202 210 210 215 217 230 230 233 237 246 250 250 250 255 259 260 260 265 268 270 276 280 280 280 281 286 290 291 300 300 300 301 306 310 310 314 315 320 325 327 329 330 332 336 338 340 350 350 350 350 352 360 360 360 360 375 377 380 380 383 390 390 392 407 410 411 420 420 424 425 430 431 435 444 445 450 460 460 465 470 490 500 500 505 524 525 525 529 538 540 545 560 570 600 600 600 605 610 618 620 625 630 652 671 680 696 710 720 720 730 735 735 760 780 800 840 850 870 890 900 900 906 981 1000 1038 1054 1100 1171 1205 1243 1270 1306 1450 1459 1770 1885 2315 2348 2533 3710

135 202 210 210 215 217 230 230 233 237 246 250 250 250 255 259 260 260 265 268 270 276 280 280 280 281 286 290 291 300 300 300 301 306 310 310 314 315 320 325 327 329 330 332 336 338 340 350 350 350 350 352 360 360 360 360 375 377 380 380 383 390 390 392 407 410 411 420 420 424 425 430 431 435 444 445 450 460 460 465 470 490 500 500 505 524 525 525 529 538 540 545 560 570 600 600 600 605 610 618 620 625 630 652 671 680 696 710 720 720 730 735 735 760 780 800 840 850 870 890 900 900 906 981 1000 1038 1054 1100 1171 1205 1243 1270 1306 1450 1459 1770 1885 2315 2348 2533 3710


  The decimal point is 2 digit(s) to the right of the |

   1 | 4
   2 | 0112233345555666677788888999
   3 | 00001111223333344455555666688888999
   4 | 111222333445566779
   5 | 001233344567
   6 | 000112233578
   7 | 012234468
   8 | 04579
   9 | 0018
  10 | 045
  11 | 07
  12 | 147
  13 | 1
  14 | 56
  15 | 
  16 | 
  17 | 7
  18 | 9
  19 | 
  20 | 
  21 | 
  22 | 
  23 | 25
  24 | 
  25 | 3
  26 | 
  27 | 
  28 | 
  29 | 
  30 | 
  31 | 
  32 | 
  33 | 
  34 | 
  35 | 
  36 | 
  37 | 1

135 202 210 210 215 217 230 230 233 237 246 250 250 250 255 259 260 260 265 268 270 276 280 280 280 281 286 290 291 300 300 300 301 306 310 310 314 315 320 325 327 329 330 332 336 338 340 350 350 350 350 352 360 360 360 360 375 377 380 380 383 390 390 392 407 410 411 420 420 424 425 430 431 435 444 445 450 460 460 465 470 490 500 500 505 524 525 525 529 538 540 545 560 570 600 600 600 605 610 618 620 625 630 652 671 680 696 710 720 720 730 735 735 760 780 800 840 850 870 890 900 900 906 981 1000 1038 1054 1100 1171 1205 1243 1270 1306 1450 1459 1770 1885 2315 2348 2533 3710


  The decimal point is 2 digit(s) to the right of the |

   1 | 4
   2 | 0112233345555666677788888999
   3 | 00001111223333344455555666688888999
   4 | 111222333445566779
   5 | 001233344567
   6 | 000112233578
   7 | 012234468
   8 | 04579
   9 | 0018
  10 | 045
  11 | 07
  12 | 147
  13 | 1
  14 | 56
  15 | 
  16 | 
  17 | 7
  18 | 9
  19 | 
  20 | 
  21 | 
  22 | 
  23 | 25
  24 | 
  25 | 3
  26 | 
  27 | 
  28 | 
  29 | 
  30 | 
  31 | 
  32 | 
  33 | 
  34 | 
  35 | 
  36 | 
  37 | 1

135 202 210 210 215 217 230 230 233 237 246 250 250 250 255 259 260 260 265 268 270 276 280 280 280 281 286 290 291 300 300 300 301 306 310 310 314 315 320 325 327 329 330 332 336 338 340 350 350 350 350 352 360 360 360 360 375 377 380 380 383 390 390 392 407 410 411 420 420 424 425 430 431 435 444 445 450 460 460 465 470 490 500 500 505 524 525 525 529 538 540 545 560 570 600 600 600 605 610 618 620 625 630 652 671 680 696 710 720 720 730 735 735 760 780 800 840 850 870 890 900 900 906 981 1000 1038 1054 1100 1171 1205 1243 1270 1306 1450 1459 1770 1885 2315 2348 2533 3710


  The decimal point is 2 digit(s) to the right of the |

   1 | 4
   2 | 0112233345555666677788888999
   3 | 00001111223333344455555666688888999
   4 | 111222333445566779
   5 | 001233344567
   6 | 000112233578
   7 | 012234468
   8 | 04579
   9 | 0018
  10 | 045
  11 | 07
  12 | 147
  13 | 1
  14 | 56
  15 | 
  16 | 
  17 | 7
  18 | 9
  19 | 
  20 | 
  21 | 
  22 | 
  23 | 25
  24 | 
  25 | 3
  26 | 
  27 | 
  28 | 
  29 | 
  30 | 
  31 | 
  32 | 
  33 | 
  34 | 
  35 | 
  36 | 
  37 | 1

135 202 210 210 215 217 230 230 233 237 246 250 250 250 255 259 260 260 265 268 270 276 280 280 280 281 286 290 291 300 300 300 301 306 310 310 314 315 320 325 327 329 330 332 336 338 340 350 350 350 350 352 360 360 360 360 375 377 380 380 383 390 390 392 407 410 411 420 420 424 425 430 431 435 444 445 450 460 460 465 470 490 500 500 505 524 525 525 529 538 540 545 560 570 600 600 600 605 610 618 620 625 630 652 671 680 696 710 720 720 730 735 735 760 780 800 840 850 870 890 900 900 906 981 1000 1038 1054 1100 1171 1205 1243 1270 1306 1450 1459 1770 1885 2315 2348 2533 3710


  The decimal point is 2 digit(s) to the right of the |

   1 | 4
   2 | 0112233345555666677788888999
   3 | 00001111223333344455555666688888999
   4 | 111222333445566779
   5 | 001233344567
   6 | 000112233578
   7 | 012234468
   8 | 04579
   9 | 0018
  10 | 045
  11 | 07
  12 | 147
  13 | 1
  14 | 56
  15 | 
  16 | 
  17 | 7
  18 | 9
  19 | 
  20 | 
  21 | 
  22 | 
  23 | 25
  24 | 
  25 | 3
  26 | 
  27 | 
  28 | 
  29 | 
  30 | 
  31 | 
  32 | 
  33 | 
  34 | 
  35 | 
  36 | 
  37 | 1

135 202 210 210 215 217 230 230 233 237 246 250 250 250 255 259 260 260 265 268 270 276 280 280 280 281 286 290 291 300 300 300 301 306 310 310 314 315 320 325 327 329 330 332 336 338 340 350 350 350 350 352 360 360 360 360 375 377 380 380 383 390 390 392 407 410 411 420 420 424 425 430 431 435 444 445 450 460 460 465 470 490 500 500 505 524 525 525 529 538 540 545 560 570 600 600 600 605 610 618 620 625 630 652 671 680 696 710 720 720 730 735 735 760 780 800 840 850 870 890 900 900 906 981 1000 1038 1054 1100 1171 1205 1243 1270 1306 1450 1459 1770 1885 2315 2348 2533 3710


  The decimal point is 2 digit(s) to the right of the |

   1 | 4
   2 | 0112233345555666677788888999
   3 | 00001111223333344455555666688888999
   4 | 111222333445566779
   5 | 001233344567
   6 | 000112233578
   7 | 012234468
   8 | 04579
   9 | 0018
  10 | 045
  11 | 07
  12 | 147
  13 | 1
  14 | 56
  15 | 
  16 | 
  17 | 7
  18 | 9
  19 | 
  20 | 
  21 | 
  22 | 
  23 | 25
  24 | 
  25 | 3
  26 | 
  27 | 
  28 | 
  29 | 
  30 | 
  31 | 
  32 | 
  33 | 
  34 | 
  35 | 
  36 | 
  37 | 1

135 202 210 210 215 217 230 230 233 237 246 250 250 250 255 259 260 260 265 268 270 276 280 280 280 281 286 290 291 300 300 300 301 306 310 310 314 315 320 325 327 329 330 332 336 338 340 350 350 350 350 352 360 360 360 360 375 377 380 380 383 390 390 392 407 410 411 420 420 424 425 430 431 435 444 445 450 460 460 465 470 490 500 500 505 524 525 525 529 538 540 545 560 570 600 600 600 605 610 618 620 625 630 652 671 680 696 710 720 720 730 735 735 760 780 800 840 850 870 890 900 900 906 981 1000 1038 1054 1100 1171 1205 1243 1270 1306 1450 1459 1770 1885 2315 2348 2533 3710


  The decimal point is 2 digit(s) to the right of the |

   1 | 4
   2 | 0112233345555666677788888999
   3 | 00001111223333344455555666688888999
   4 | 111222333445566779
   5 | 001233344567
   6 | 000112233578
   7 | 012234468
   8 | 04579
   9 | 0018
  10 | 045
  11 | 07
  12 | 147
  13 | 1
  14 | 56
  15 | 
  16 | 
  17 | 7
  18 | 9
  19 | 
  20 | 
  21 | 
  22 | 
  23 | 25
  24 | 
  25 | 3
  26 | 
  27 | 
  28 | 
  29 | 
  30 | 
  31 | 
  32 | 
  33 | 
  34 | 
  35 | 
  36 | 
  37 | 1

135 202 210 210 215 217 230 230 233 237 246 250 250 250 255 259 260 260 265 268 270 276 280 280 280 281 286 290 291 300 300 300 301 306 310 310 314 315 320 325 327 329 330 332 336 338 340 350 350 350 350 352 360 360 360 360 375 377 380 380 383 390 390 392 407 410 411 420 420 424 425 430 431 435 444 445 450 460 460 465 470 490 500 500 505 524 525 525 529 538 540 545 560 570 600 600 600 605 610 618 620 625 630 652 671 680 696 710 720 720 730 735 735 760 780 800 840 850 870 890 900 900 906 981 1000 1038 1054 1100 1171 1205 1243 1270 1306 1450 1459 1770 1885 2315 2348 2533 3710


  The decimal point is 2 digit(s) to the right of the |

   1 | 4
   2 | 0112233345555666677788888999
   3 | 00001111223333344455555666688888999
   4 | 111222333445566779
   5 | 001233344567
   6 | 000112233578
   7 | 012234468
   8 | 04579
   9 | 0018
  10 | 045
  11 | 07
  12 | 147
  13 | 1
  14 | 56
  15 | 
  16 | 
  17 | 7
  18 | 9
  19 | 
  20 | 
  21 | 
  22 | 
  23 | 25
  24 | 
  25 | 3
  26 | 
  27 | 
  28 | 
  29 | 
  30 | 
  31 | 
  32 | 
  33 | 
  34 | 
  35 | 
  36 | 
  37 | 1

135 202 210 210 215 217 230 230 233 237 246 250 250 250 255 259 260 260 265 268 270 276 280 280 280 281 286 290 291 300 300 300 301 306 310 310 314 315 320 325 327 329 330 332 336 338 340 350 350 350 350 352 360 360 360 360 375 377 380 380 383 390 390 392 407 410 411 420 420 424 425 430 431 435 444 445 450 460 460 465 470 490 500 500 505 524 525 525 529 538 540 545 560 570 600 600 600 605 610 618 620 625 630 652 671 680 696 710 720 720 730 735 735 760 780 800 840 850 870 890 900 900 906 981 1000 1038 1054 1100 1171 1205 1243 1270 1306 1450 1459 1770 1885 2315 2348 2533 3710


  The decimal point is 2 digit(s) to the right of the |

   1 | 4
   2 | 0112233345555666677788888999
   3 | 00001111223333344455555666688888999
   4 | 111222333445566779
   5 | 001233344567
   6 | 000112233578
   7 | 012234468
   8 | 04579
   9 | 0018
  10 | 045
  11 | 07
  12 | 147
  13 | 1
  14 | 56
  15 | 
  16 | 
  17 | 7
  18 | 9
  19 | 
  20 | 
  21 | 
  22 | 
  23 | 25
  24 | 
  25 | 3
  26 | 
  27 | 
  28 | 
  29 | 
  30 | 
  31 | 
  32 | 
  33 | 
  34 | 
  35 | 
  36 | 
  37 | 1

135 202 210 210 215 217 230 230 233 237 246 250 250 250 255 259 260 260 265 268 270 276 280 280 280 281 286 290 291 300 300 300 301 306 310 310 314 315 320 325 327 329 330 332 336 338 340 350 350 350 350 352 360 360 360 360 375 377 380 380 383 390 390 392 407 410 411 420 420 424 425 430 431 435 444 445 450 460 460 465 470 490 500 500 505 524 525 525 529 538 540 545 560 570 600 600 600 605 610 618 620 625 630 652 671 680 696 710 720 720 730 735 735 760 780 800 840 850 870 890 900 900 906 981 1000 1038 1054 1100 1171 1205 1243 1270 1306 1450 1459 1770 1885 2315 2348 2533 3710

135 202 210 210 215 217 230 230 233 237 246 250 250 250 255 259 260 260 265 268 270 276 280 280 280 281 286 290 291 300 300 300 301 306 310 310 314 315 320 325 327 329 330 332 336 338 340 350 350 350 350 352 360 360 360 360 375 377 380 380 383 390 390 392 407 410 411 420 420 424 425 430 431 435 444 445 450 460 460 465 470 490 500 500 505 524 525 525 529 538 540 545 560 570 600 600 600 605 610 618 620 625 630 652 671 680 696 710 720 720 730 735 735 760 780 800 840 850 870 890 900 900 906 981 1000 1038 1054 1100 1171 1205 1243 1270 1306 1450 1459 1770 1885 2315 2348 2533 3710

Colour should be meaningful and take into account the nature of the data being graphed.

Sequential

Diverging

Qualitative

Colour should be meaningful and take into account the nature of the data being graphed.

Colour should be attune to things like contrast and color vision deficiencies (CVD).

Colour should be meaningful and take into account the nature of the data being graphed.

It should also be attune to things like contrast and color vision deficiencies (CVD).

Colour should be carefully mapped to continuous data.

Colour picker ColorBrewer https://colorbrewer2.org/
Contrast Material Design https://m3.material.io/
Colour Scales Fabio Crameri https://www.fabiocrameri.ch/

Country Code Year Population Continent Life Expectency GDP
24184 Lesotho LSO 2015 2059000 Africa 51.038 2954
2098 Armenia ARM 2015 2926000 Asia 74.467 9552
47793 Uruguay URY 2015 3412000 South America 77.369 19668
40002 Slovakia SVK 2015 5436000 Europe 76.827 25896
5521 Bosnia and Herzegovina BIH 2015 3429000 Europe 76.865 10305
26454 Mali MLI 2015 17439000 Africa 57.509 1563
36348 Romania ROU 2015 19925000 Europe 75.476 20549
11476 Denmark DNK 2015 5689000 Europe 80.475 44939
21516 Jamaica JAM 2015 2891000 North America 74.098 7115
38830 Senegal SEN 2015 14578000 Africa 66.747 2446
13829 Eswatini SWZ 2015 1104000 Africa 55.359 7726
33122 Pakistan PAK 2015 199427008 Asia 66.577 5056
16295 Gambia GMB 2015 2086000 Africa 60.910 1948
18782 Haiti HTI 2015 10696000 North America 62.485 1649
48893 Vietnam VNM 2015 92677000 Asia 75.110 5733
9477 Congo COG 2015 4856000 Africa 63.097 4526
16075 Gabon GAB 2015 1948000 Africa 64.913 14315
30394 Nepal NPL 2015 27015000 Asia 69.515 2607
32198 North Macedonia MKD 2015 2079000 Europe 75.406 13586
10721 Cyprus CYP 2015 1161000 Europe 80.350 25903

Country Code Year Population Continent Life Expectency GDP
24184 Lesotho LSO 2015 2059000 Africa 51.038 2954
2098 Armenia ARM 2015 2926000 Asia 74.467 9552
47793 Uruguay URY 2015 3412000 South America 77.369 19668
40002 Slovakia SVK 2015 5436000 Europe 76.827 25896
5521 Bosnia and Herzegovina BIH 2015 3429000 Europe 76.865 10305
26454 Mali MLI 2015 17439000 Africa 57.509 1563
36348 Romania ROU 2015 19925000 Europe 75.476 20549
11476 Denmark DNK 2015 5689000 Europe 80.475 44939
21516 Jamaica JAM 2015 2891000 North America 74.098 7115
38830 Senegal SEN 2015 14578000 Africa 66.747 2446
13829 Eswatini SWZ 2015 1104000 Africa 55.359 7726
33122 Pakistan PAK 2015 199427008 Asia 66.577 5056
16295 Gambia GMB 2015 2086000 Africa 60.910 1948
18782 Haiti HTI 2015 10696000 North America 62.485 1649
48893 Vietnam VNM 2015 92677000 Asia 75.110 5733
9477 Congo COG 2015 4856000 Africa 63.097 4526
16075 Gabon GAB 2015 1948000 Africa 64.913 14315
30394 Nepal NPL 2015 27015000 Asia 69.515 2607
32198 North Macedonia MKD 2015 2079000 Europe 75.406 13586
10721 Cyprus CYP 2015 1161000 Europe 80.350 25903

Country Code Year Population Continent Life Expectency GDP
24184 Lesotho LSO 2015 2059000 Africa 51.038 2954
2098 Armenia ARM 2015 2926000 Asia 74.467 9552
47793 Uruguay URY 2015 3412000 South America 77.369 19668
40002 Slovakia SVK 2015 5436000 Europe 76.827 25896
5521 Bosnia and Herzegovina BIH 2015 3429000 Europe 76.865 10305
26454 Mali MLI 2015 17439000 Africa 57.509 1563
36348 Romania ROU 2015 19925000 Europe 75.476 20549
11476 Denmark DNK 2015 5689000 Europe 80.475 44939
21516 Jamaica JAM 2015 2891000 North America 74.098 7115
38830 Senegal SEN 2015 14578000 Africa 66.747 2446
13829 Eswatini SWZ 2015 1104000 Africa 55.359 7726
33122 Pakistan PAK 2015 199427008 Asia 66.577 5056
16295 Gambia GMB 2015 2086000 Africa 60.910 1948
18782 Haiti HTI 2015 10696000 North America 62.485 1649
48893 Vietnam VNM 2015 92677000 Asia 75.110 5733
9477 Congo COG 2015 4856000 Africa 63.097 4526
16075 Gabon GAB 2015 1948000 Africa 64.913 14315
30394 Nepal NPL 2015 27015000 Asia 69.515 2607
32198 North Macedonia MKD 2015 2079000 Europe 75.406 13586
10721 Cyprus CYP 2015 1161000 Europe 80.350 25903

Data and Provenance